$137 million proposed for clean water projects across WashingtonFunding list available for public review and comment

OLYMPIA – A significant amount of
grant and loan funding is once again proposed for high-priority projects in
2017 to protect the health of Washington’s lakes, rivers, streams and marine
waters.

The Department of Ecology’s
Water Quality Program
proposes that $137 million be directed toward 103 projects across the state for
clean water infrastructure projects. The
list of projects is available for public review and comment online.

“Our grant and loan program is a steadfast source of financial assistance to
local communities, helping them make investments that last well into the future
to protect water quality,” said Heather Bartlett, manager of Ecology’s Water
Quality Program. “We financially support communities that might not otherwise be
able to afford these projects and create jobs at the same time. We are fixing
wastewater systems, preventing nonpoint sources of pollution, and addressing
stormwater pollution problems that threaten our waters.”

Most of the funding -- $128 million -- is proposed for wastewater and
stormwater infrastructure projects. Examples include upgrades to wastewater
treatment plants, getting homes off failing septic systems and construction of
projects that capture and contain stormwater.

Infrastructure spending not only protects the environment, it creates jobs.
State financial managers calculate that 11 jobs are created in Washington for
every $1 million spent on infrastructure. Using this calculation, the funding
will support more than 1,400 jobs, with one-third of them as construction jobs.

Twenty-six wastewater treatment plants are tagged to receive approximately
$94 million for facility projects. Eight of these projects are in communities
that qualify for financial hardship status. They would receive forgivable
principal loans (loans that do not need to be paid back), and loans with
interest rates as low as 0.1 percent. The hardship communities are:

Dryden and Peshastin (a combined project)

Concrete

Oak Harbor

Sequim - two projects

Toppenish

King County - two projects for Valley View Sewer District

Ecology determined that these hardship projects were also eligible for more
than $10 million in
Centennial Program grants, however not enough Centennial Program funding is
available. Ecology is committed to providing these projects with Centennial
Program grant funding during the next funding cycle, contingent on a legislative
appropriation.

Fifty-nine projects would split $33 million from the
Stormwater Financial Assistance Program to focus on reducing stormwater
pollution. Stormwater funding comes from a combination of state bond and
hazardous substance tax dollars. A few of the highest-priority stormwater
projects include:

Clarkston is slated to receive a $460,000
grant to install stormwater improvements that will retain and
infiltrate stormwater using low-impact development techniques.

Kirkland is set to get a $2.5 million grant
to provide water quality treatment, flow control, and
infiltration for approximately 48.5 acres of single-family
residential and right-of-way area in the northeast corner of the
Totem Lake Basin.

Skagit County Public Utility District No. 1
would receive $1.6 million to purchase and retain forested land
above Gilligan Creek to protect a source of public drinking
water. The project will reduce risks of sediment delivery,
chemical pollution, temperature impacts, and landslides to the
stream.

The Nooksack Indian Tribe would receive
$139,000 to restore 51 acres of forest along the South Fork
Nooksack River. Mature trees will shade and cool the river, help
filter pollution, and create large woody debris for salmon
habitat and natural stream function.

Foster Creek Conservation District in Douglas County
would receive a $250,000 grant to provide assistance to local
dry land wheat, canola and grain producers helping them to move
from conventional tillage methods to direct-seed/no-till
systems. The project is designed to improve the water quality in
local streams and tributaries by significantly reducing
agricultural sediment erosion.

Another 24 pollution-control projects qualified for grants as well, but
Ecology was unable to propose grant funding due to a lack of Centennial Grant
Program funding.